Data processing medium connector with locking means

ABSTRACT

A connector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium has an ejection mechanism for discharging the card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus. The ejection mechanism comprises a slidable plate that is movably mounted on a frame of the connector apparatus and has a pawl that engages with a forward end face of the card-like data processing medium. The slidable plate slides back and forth in a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the frame in order to eject the card-like data processing medium. A pivotal lever for transmitting movement of a push rod into movement of the slidable plate is rotatably mounted on the frame in the same plane as the slidable plate, thereby reducing the profile of the connector apparatus. In an alternate embodiment, the pivotal lever is replaced by a plurality of gears that transmit movement of the push rod into movement of the slidable plate.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a connector and, moreparticularly, to a data processing medium connector for connecting adata processing medium, e.g., an IC card, a hard disk drive package, andthe like to a data processing apparatus, e.g., a personal computer,peripheral equipment thereof, and the like, in order to execute datacommunication between the data processing medium and the data processingapparatus. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a dataprocessing medium locking mechanism which is used in the connector ofthe above-mentioned type to lock the data processing medium in theconnector.

2. Description of the Prior Art

One of the known connectors for connecting a card type data processingmedium (typically a memory card) to a data processing apparatus(typically a personal computer) is disclosed in Japanese Utility ModelApplication No. 2-90772 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,697). Thisconnector has such a size that it can be mounted in, e.g., the expansionslot of a personal computer. This connector has a housing for housing amemory card, and a releasing mechanism for releasing connection of theconnector and the memory card from each other.

The housing has open and closed ends opposing each other, and a housingspace for housing the memory card is defined between the open and closedends. This housing is generally formed as a frame member made of aplastic, and its upper portion is covered with a metal reinforcing platefor imparting a strength to the frame member. The open end of thehousing is arranged at the open side of the expansion slot of thepersonal computer so that the memory card can be inserted and removedtherethrough. A plurality of male contact terminals are arranged at theclosed end of the housing. One end of each male contact terminal extendsfrom the closed end to the outside of the housing and is connected tothe circuit substrate in the personal computer. The other end of eachmale contact terminal is arranged to oppose the open end in the housingand is formed such that it can be connected to a corresponding femalecontact terminal of the memory card.

The releasing mechanism includes a slidable plate slidable on thereinforcing plate of the housing in the moving direction of the memorycard, a pivotal lever for driving the slidable plate, and a push rod formanually operating the pivotal lever. The slidable plate has a pawlengageable with the memory card in the housing through a notch in thereinforcing plate of the housing. One end of the pivotal lever iscoupled to the slidable plate on the reinforcing plate of the housing,and the central portion of the pivotal lever is axially mounted to thereinforcing plate of the housing. The other end of the pivotal lever iscoupled to the push rod mounted on a side surface of the housing. Thepush rod is manually reciprocally movable in the moving direction of thememory card. Accordingly, when the reciprocal movement of the push rodis transmitted to the slidable plate through the pivotal lever, theslidable plate is reciprocally moved.

The pivotal lever is formed such that it converts the movement of thepush rod in the opposite direction and transmits it to the slidableplate.

When the memory card is completely inserted from the open end toward theclosed end of the housing and the female terminals of the memory cardare connected to the male terminals of the connector, since the pawl ofthe slidable plate is engaged with the memory card, the slidable plateis also moved toward the closed end side of the housing. When thismovement is transmitted to the push rod through the pivotal lever, thepush rod is withdrawn from the open end side of the housing. On thecontrary, when the push rod is pushed in toward the closed end of thehousing, the slidable plate and the memory card are moved toward theopen end side of the housing, and accordingly the female terminals ofthe memory card and the male terminals of the connector are disconnectedfrom each other.

The computer industry continues to strive toward low profile dataprocessing apparatus, e.g., personal computers, peripheral equipment,and the like. As a consequence, there is a need to reduce the profile ofmemory card connectors intended for use in such low profile computingapparatus. Furthermore, any such low-profile connector should be easy tooperate and should have data security features in order to preventdamage to circuit elements, e.g., memory elements, and loss of data inthe event of an unexpected accident, such as inadvertent ejection of amemory card from the connector.

Size design of the conventional connector described above will bediscussed. First, from the viewpoint of the thickness of the connector,three metal plates, i.e., the reinforcing plate of the housing, theslidable plate of the releasing mechanism, and the pivotal lever, arelocated above the memory card, thus preventing the realization of a lowprofile connector. Second, from the viewpoint of the length of theconnector (the moving direction of the memory card), the stroke lengthof the push rod projecting outward from the open end of the housing istoo long, further hampering efforts to achieve a low-profile connector.

From the viewpoint of operation of the conventional connector describedabove, while data communication is performed between the memory card andthe data processing apparatus, the push rod projects beyond the open endof the housing. In such an extended position, the push rod can be pushedin accidentally by an operator. Additionally, unexpected vibrations orshocks to the computing apparatus could cause a memory card to back outof and disconnect from the connector. When any of these accidents occur,the circuit elements in the memory card can be damaged, and data in thecircuit elements can be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dataprocessing medium connector that realizes a lower profile.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dataprocessing medium connector having safety features that preventinadvertent removal of the data processing medium due to operator erroror some unexpected vibration or shock to the connector apparatus.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dataprocessing medium locking mechanism capable of locking a data processingmedium in the connector even when an erroneous operation of the operatoror some unexpected vibration or shock occurs.

According to the present invention, these and other objects are achievedin a connector apparatus comprising a frame having opposing side railsspaced at an interval substantially equal to a width of the card-likedata processing medium for guiding the card-like data processing mediumduring insertion into the connector apparatus. A header is coupled tothe frame and has a plurality of contact terminals arranged to connectwith the card-like data processing medium when the medium is fullyinserted into the connector apparatus. A slidable plate is movablymounted on the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a planedefined by the frame. The slidable plate is operable to slide toward andaway from the header and has at least one pawl adapted to engage aforward end face of the card-like data processing medium. A push rod isslidably mounted on one of the side rails of the frame and is capable ofsliding lengthwise of the one side rail toward and away from the header.A pivotal lever is rotatably mounted on the frame. One end of thepivotal lever is coupled to the slidable plate and the other end of thepivotal lever is coupled to the push rod. Consequently, movement of thepush rod in one direction is translated through rotation of the pivotallever into movement of the slidable plate in an opposite direction.According to an important feature of the present invention, the pivotallever is mounted, and therefore rotates, in substantially the same planeas the slidable plate. Because these two plates lie in the same plane,the overall height of the connector apparatus is reduced and a lowerprofile is achieved.

Preferably, the push rod does not project from either the open end orthe closed end of the frame as the push rod moves lengthwise of the siderail of the frame toward and away from the header. This further ensuresa low-profile connector apparatus. The frame of the connector apparatusis preferably U-shaped.

The connector apparatus of the present invention further comprises meansfor locking the push rod in place to prevent movement of the push rod,and consequently, to prevent inadvertent ejection of the card-like dataprocessing medium from the connector apparatus. The locking meanscomprises an operating member for manually moving and operating thelocking means. In a preferred embodiment, the push rod also has anoperating member and both the operating member of the locking means andthe operating member of the push rod are located on the same side railof the frame. The locking means and the push rod are both operated bysliding the respective operating members lengthwise of the side railtoward and away from the header. By placing both operating members onthe same side of the connector apparatus, the locking and ejectingfunctions can be performed by an operator using one hand.

In an alternate embodiment, the pivotal lever is replaced by geartransmitting means for transmitting movement of the push rod to theslidable plate through at least one gear. Preferably, the at least onegear comprises a first gear and a second gear, the first gear beingconcentrically and fixedly attached to the second gear. In thisembodiment, the ear transmitting means comprises a first worm geardisposed on the slidable plate and engaged with the first gear, and asecond worm gear disposed on the push rod and engaged with the secondgear. Movement of the push rod is transmitted through the first andsecond gears and the first and second worm gears into movement of theslidable plate. The gear ratio can be adjusted to shorten the strokelength of the push rod to ensure that the push rod does not project pastthe ends of the connector apparatus during is operation stroke.Additionally, the gear ratio can be set to require a certain force inorder to eject a data processing medium from the connector apparatus,thereby reducing the likelihood of inadvertent ejection.

It is understood that the terms "data processing medium" and "card-likedata processing medium" used herein include not only mediums for storingdata, but also interfaces and the like that convert data communicatedbetween, e.g., two data processing apparatuses. Moreover, "discharge" or"ejection" of the data processing medium does not necessarily mean thatthe entire data processing medium is discharged from the connectorapparatus, but means a state wherein electrical and mechanicalconnections of the connector and the data processing medium arereleased, no matter how slightly.

These and other object and advantages of the present invention willbecome evident hereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a data processing medium connectoraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIG. 1 with areinforcing plate removed in order to clearly show the internalstructure thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a releasing mechanism and a switchmechanism of the connector shown in FIG. 1, and includes a separate viewof the switch mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of an engaging cylinderof the connector shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view partially showing the offsetportion of the slidable plate and the distal end portion of the pivotallever of the connector shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing further detailsof the switch mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a transmission mechanism betweenthe push rod and the slidable plate of the data processing mediumconnector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing further details of thegear portion of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view partially showing a dataprocessing medium connector according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the guide groove of the connector shownin FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a connector 10 according to the presentinvention has a housing 12, constituted by a plastic frame 14 and astainless steel reinforcing plate 16, and a releasing mechanism 18 and aheader 20 mounted to the housing 12. Such a connector 10 is generallyhoused in a data processing apparatus (not shown), e.g., a personalcomputer, its peripheral equipment, or the like, with its reinforcingplate 16 facing upward.

The frame 14 of the housing 12 is formed in a substantially U-shapedmanner, and the header 20 where a plurality of male contact terminals 22are arranged is mounted to the closed end of the frame 14. An open end14a of the frame 14 forms an opening of the housing 12 for receiving amemory card 38 into the housing 12. Accordingly, the closed end, theopening 14a, and two side rails 14b of the frame 14 of the housing 12define a storage space for housing the memory card 38. In the followingdescription, the header 20 side (the closed end side of the housing 12)of the connector 10 is the forward portion of the connector 10, and theopen end 14a side of the connector 10 is the rear portion of theconnector 10. Guides 14c for guiding the memory card 38 to the header 20are formed in the inner surfaces of the two side rails 14b of the frame14. The width between the pair of the guides 14c is set to be slightlylarger than the width of the memory card 38 so that the guides 14c cansmoothly guide the memory card. A plurality of female contact terminals(not shown) corresponding to the plurality of male contact terminals 22of the header 20 are arranged on a front end face 38a of the memory card38.

The substantially horizontal reinforcing plate 16 of the housing 12 isfixed to the frame 14 and the header 20 at the closed end side of theframe 14. For example, the reinforcing plate 16 is fixed to the frame 14and the header 20 by fitting small projections (not shown) formed on theupper surfaces of the frame 14 and the header 20 into small holes (notshown) formed in the reinforcing plate 16. A notch 24 is formed at thecentral portion of the reinforcing plate 16, and an engaging portion 26of a slidable plate 28 (to be described later) is engaged with thisnotch 24. On the upper surface of the reinforcing plate 16, at leastone, and preferably a pair of small-diameter engaging cylinders 30project in the vicinity of the notch 24. In this embodiment, the pair ofengaging cylinders 30 project at symmetrical positions with respect tothe notch 24, i.e., the notch 24 is sandwiched between them when seenfrom the widthwise direction of the reinforcing plate 16. A pivotallever 34 of the releasing mechanism 18 can be axially mounted to one orthe other engaging cylinder 30 in a manner to be described later.Therefore, when a pair of engaging cylinders 30 are provided, as in thisembodiment, the pivotal lever(s) 34 can be mounted on the left and/orright side of the housing 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, each engaging cylinder 30 is made by drawing thereinforcing plate 16, thereby forming a circular cylinder extendingdownwardly below the surface of the reinforcing plate 16. An uppersurface 20a of the header 20 as recessed portions 32 formed oppositeeach engaging cylinder 30 to prevent interference between the engagingcylinders 30 and the header 20.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the connector 10 from which the reinforcing plate 16has been removed in order to clarify the structure of the releasingmechanism 18 of the connector 10. In FIG. 2, most of the frame 14 isremoved as well, and in FIG. 3, the frame 14 and the header 20 are alsoremoved.

The releasing mechanism 18 comprises a slidable plate 28, a pivotallever 34, and a push rod 36. The slidable plate 28 for discharging thememory card 38 through the housing opening 14a is made of a stainlesssteel plate having a thickness t. This slidable plate 28 is arrangedbelow the reinforcing plate 16 and lies in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of the reinforcing plate 16. The slidable plate 28is slidable between the reinforcing plate 16 and an intermediate plane12a of the housing 12 (to be described later) in a moving directions 76aand/or 76b of the memory card 38. The two ends of a front end face 28aof the slidable plate 28 has a pair of pawls 42 formed on opposite sidesof a front end face 28a of the plate 28. The pawls 42 engage with thefront end face 38a of the memory card 38 in order to discharge thememory card 38 through the housing opening 14a. The pawls 42 are bentdownward from a major flat surface 28b of the slidable plate 28substantially vertically. The vicinities of the pawls 42 of the slidableplate 28 have a pair of projecting portions 44 projecting furtherforward from the front end face 28a of the slidable plate 28. Theseprojecting portions 44 are formed such that they prevent removal of thetwo side portions of the slidable plate 28 from the intermediate plane12a of the housing 12 when the slidable plate 28 is slid in forward andbackward directions 76a and 76b. Projecting portions 44 help maintainthe orientation of slidable plate 28 relative to intermediate plane 12aby providing a deeper surface of plate 28 along directions 76a and 76bfor contacting adjacent parts, including reinforcing plate 16. Anengaging portion 26 to be engaged with the pivotal lever 34 projectsfrom the central portion of the front end face 28a of the slidable plate28. A portion of the engaging portion 26 which is engaged with thepivotal lever 34 forms an offset portion. 46 offset from the major flatsurface 28b of the slidable plate 28. The offset portion 46 is shown inFIG. 5 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the offset portion 46 is viewed in a sectionalong its rear to front portion, it is first bent upward from the majorflat surface 28b of the slidable plate 28 for the thickness t, and thenextends as a high surface 48 (having a height 2t from the bottom surfaceof the slidable plate 28 and a height, t, from the major flat surface28b of the slidable plate 28) to be parallel to the major flat surface28b. Subsequently, the offset portion 46 is bent downward from the highsurface 48 for 2t and extends as a low surface 50 (having a height tfrom the bottom surface of the slidable plate 28 and a height t from themajor flat surface 28b of the slidable plate 28) to be parallel to themajor flat surface 28b. A notch 52 is formed at the front centralportion of the high surface 48 of the offset portion 46. The width ofthe notch 52 is slightly larger than the plate thickness of the pivotallever 34. The pivotal lever 34 in this embodiment is formed of astainless steel plate having a thickness t in the same manner as theslidable plate 28.

The pivotal lever(s) 34 of the releasing mechanism 18 of the connector10 can be mounted on the right and/or left side of the housing 12. Inthis embodiment, the pivotal lever 34 is mounted to the right side ofthe housing 12. An engaging hole 54 is formed in the central portion ofthe pivotal lever 34. When the corresponding engaging cylinder 30 of thereinforcing plate 16 of the housing reinforcing plate 16 is inserted inthis engaging hole 54, the pivotal lever 34 is axially mounted to thehousing reinforcing plate 16 so that it pivots in a plane substantiallyparallel to, but below, the plane of the reinforcing plate 16. AT-shaped portion 56 projecting toward the front of the connector 10 isformed on one end of the pivotal lever 34. This T-shaped portion 56 isengaged with the notch 52 in the offset portion 46 of the engagingportion 26 of the slidable plate 28. The other end portion 34a of thepivotal lever 34 is bent downward substantially vertically and then bentsubstantially horizontally. The distal end of the other end portion 34aof the pivotal lever 34 is engaged with a lever engaging groove 58 (tobe described later) at the distal end of the push rod 36. The pivotallever 34 is disposed in a plane between the reinforcing plate 16 and theintermediate plane 12a of the housing 12.

The push rod(s) 36 of the releasing mechanism 18 of the connector 10 canbe mounted to right and/or left side of the housing 12 in the widthwisedirection. In this embodiment, the push rod 36 is mounted to the rightside of the housing 12. The push rod 36 comprises a front portion 36aincluding a forked member 60 and a linear member 74 continuous to theforked member 60, and a rear portion 36b formed separately of the frontportion 36a and including an operating member 68 and a coil spring 70.

The forked member 60 forming the front end of the front portion 36a ofthe push rod 36 forms a fork substantially parallel to the heightdirection of the housing 12. The lever engaging groove 58 in which theother end portion 34a of the pivotal lever 34 is engaged is defined inthe forked member 60, and an engaging recessed portion 62 recessedtoward the inner side of the housing 12 in the widthwise direction isformed in the rear end of the rear portion 36b (rear end of theoperating member 68) of the push rod 36. A lock member 78 for lockingthe memory card 38 is engaged with the engaging recessed portion 62, aswill be described later.

The operating member 68 is designed to be suitable for a manualoperation of the push rod 36, and typically has a knob 66 projectingexternally from the housing 12 in the widthwise direction. The coilspring 70 is arranged between the front portion 36a and the operatingmember 68 of the push rod 36. The distal end of the coil spring 70 isfixed to a hollow projection 72 of the frame 14, and the rear endthereof abuts against the front end of the operating member 68. The coilspring 70 and the operating member 68 form the rear portion 36b of thepush rod 36, as described above.

A guide hole (not shown) having a smaller diameter than the coildiameter of the coil spring 70 and the diameter of the forked member 60is formed in the hollow projection 72 of the frame 14 in theforward-backward direction of the housing 12. The linear member 74continuous to the forked member 60 is inserted in this guide hole of thehollow projection 72 of the frame 14 and can move freely in the guidehole in the forward and backward directions 76a and 76b of the housing12.

The push rod 36 as described above is always pushed in the backwarddirection 76b by its coil spring 70. The substantially L-shaped lockmember 78 for locking the memory card 38 is arranged in the vicinity ofthe rear end of the rear portion 36b (the rear end of the operatingmember 68) of the push rod 36. The front end of the lock member 78 has aprojection 80 formed to be engageable with the engaging recessed portion62 of the operating member 68. The rear end of the lock member 78 has ahook 82 for locking the rear end of the memory card 38. A guide groove84 for receiving a lock member driving projection 90 of a switchmechanism 86 (to be described later) extends from the outer corner ofthe lock member 78 toward substantially the center of the lock member78. This guide groove 84 forms a predetermined acute angle (e.g., 45°)with the forward and backward moving directions 76a and 76b of the pushrod 36. The lock member driving projection 90 can move in the guidegroove 84, and the lock member 78 moves in the widthwise direction ofthe housing 12 in response to the movement of the lock member drivingprojection 90. A recessed standby portion 84a for having the lock memberdriving projection 90 of the switch mechanism 86 stand by extends in aportion of the guide groove 84 in the vicinity of the outer corner ofthe lock member 78.

FIG. 2 shows a state wherein the lock member driving projection 90 islocated at the recessed standby portion 84a. In this state, theprojection 80 of the lock member 78 is engaged with the engagingrecessed portion 62 of the operating member 68 of the push rod 36 tolock the push rod 36, and the hook 82 projects toward the center of thehousing 12 in the widthwise direction.

On the contrary, when the projection 90 of the switch mechanism 86 movesfrom the recessed standby portion 84a, the lock member 78 moves in adirection to be apart from the operating member 68 of the push rod 36,and engagement of the projection 80 of the lock member 78 and theengaging recessed portion 62 of the operating member 68 is released.Thus, the hook 82 of the lock member 78 is withdrawn into the side rail14b on which the push rod 36 is mounted. At this time, the locked pushrod 36 is unlocked, so that it can be freely moved.

The guide groove 84 and the recessed standby portion 84a do notnecessarily extend fully in the vertical direction of the lock member78, and it suffices if they are formed at least on the lower surface ofthe lock member 78.

The linear switch mechanism 86 extending substantially in the movingdirections 76a and 76b of the push rod 36 is arranged under the push rod36 and the lock member 78 to be slidable in the directions 76a and 76b.

Referring to FIG. 3, the switch mechanism 86 includes a substantiallyT-shaped lever 88 at its front end, the lock member driving projection90 at its rear end, and an elongated transmission shaft 92 for couplingthe lever 88 and the projection 90 to each other and transmittingmovement of the lever 88 to the projection 90. The lever 88, theprojection 90, and the transmission shaft 92 are integrally formed of aplastic by injection molding.

The lock member driving projection 90 of the switch mechanism 86 extendssubstantially vertically upward at the rear end of the transmissionshaft 92 and has, e.g., a pin shape. This projection 90 enters the guidegroove 84 of the lock member 78 from the lower side of the lock member78 and can move along the guide groove 84 in response to the slidableoperation of the knob 66 of the operating member 68 of the push rod 36,i.e., movement of the push rod 36 in the directions 76a and 76b.

Especially, as shown in FIG. 6, a known switch 94 having threeconductive pins 96 is buried in the plastic lever 88 of the switchmechanism 86. Note that the three pins 96 project downward from thelever 88. This switch 94 has a conductive switching lever 98. When theswitching lever 98 is moved in the direction 76a or 76b, of the threepins 96, two adjacent pins 96 are electrically conducted through theconductive lever 98, thereby turning on/off the switch 94. Since theswitch 94 is fixed while the plastic lever 88, transmission shaft 92,and conductive lever 98 (which is buried in the plastic lever 88) arecontiguously formed to move together, the switch 94 is turned on/off inaccordance with the movement of the plastic lever 88. The ON/OFF stateof the switch 94 is electrically transmitted to the data processingapparatus through the pins 96 in a known manner.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, windows 99 and 100 are formed in one of thetwo side rails 14b of the frame 14 of the housing 12, to which the pushrod 36 is mounted. The plastic lever 88 of the switch mechanism 86, andthe knob 66 of the operating member 68 of the push rod 36 projectrespectively to the outside of the housing 12 through these windows. Therear end face of the hook 82 of the lock member 78 is flush with the endface of the housing opening 14a.

The operation of the connector 10 as described above will be furtherclarified by the following description made with reference to FIGS. 1 to3.

(i) First, the operator begins to manually insert the memory card 38into the housing 12 through the housing opening 14a along the guides14c. It is possible, however, that the hook 82 of the lock member 78projects into the housing 12 and thus blocks the memory card 38 frombeing inserted. If this is the case, the operator slides the plasticlever 88 of the switch mechanism 86 in the forward direction 76a. Thiscauses the pin projection 90 of the switch mechanism 86 to move in theguide groove 84 of the lock member 78 in a direction away from therecessed standby portion 84a. As a result, the lock member 78 slides tothe side such that the hook 82 of the lock member 78 is withdrawn fromthe opening 14a of the housing 12. The card 38 can then be inserted intothe connector housing 12. It is understood that this step is notnecessary if, upon insertion of the memory card 38, the lock member 78is already in its withdrawn position.

(ii) When the memory card 38 is completely inserted into the housing 12,i.e., when the female contact terminals of the memory card 38 areelectrically connected to the corresponding male contact terminals ofthe header 20 of the connector 10, the operator slides the plastic lever88 in the backward direction 76b. In response to this operation, the pinprojection 90 moves in the guide groove 84 of the lock member 78 towardthe recessed standby portion 84a, so that the hook 82 of the lock member78 moves toward the center of the housing 12 in the widthwise directionand abuts against the rear end face of the memory card 38. This preventsremoval of the memory card 38 from the housing 12. Also, the projection80 of the lock member 78 engages with the engaging recessed portion 62of the operating member 68 of the push rod 36, thereby locking the pushrod 36 in place. Accordingly, in this state, the push rod 36 does notmove even if the operator erroneously tries to eject the memory card 38,or even if an unexpected vibration or shock is applied to the push rod36. The memory card 38 therefore cannot be undesirably discharged fromthe connector. This reduces the risk of damage to circuit elements,e.g., memory elements, mounted in the memory card 38, and reduces therisk of loss of data stored in the memory card.

When the plastic lever 88 is slid in the backward direction 76b, theconductive lever 98 of the switch 94 of the switch mechanism 86 alsomoves simultaneously. Thus, the switch 94 is turned on to transmit anelectrical signal, indicating that the memory card 38 is locked, to thedata processing apparatus through the conductive pins 96. The dataprocessing apparatus receives this signal and initiates datacommunication with the memory card 38. Processing of the electricalsignal is achieved by a program supplied to the data processingapparatus in advance. The electrical signal can be used in any manner bythe data processing apparatus, and therefore, further details of theelectrical signal, the program of the data processing apparatus, and theprocessing of the electrical signal by the program are neithernecessary, nor limiting.

(iii) The memory card 38 can be ejected from the housing 12 wheneverdesired. More specifically, when electrical connection of the memorycard 38 and the header 20 is to be released, the operator slides theplastic lever 88 in the forward direction 76a. In response to thisoperation, the lock member 78 is retracted into the side rail 14b sothat the hook 82 of the lock member 78 is withdrawn, thereby unlockingthe locked memory card 38. Simultaneously, engagement of the projection80 of the lock member 78 and the engaging recessed portion 62 of theoperating member 68 of the push rod 36 is also released, therebyunlocking the locked push rod 36.

(iv) Subsequently, the operator slides the knob 66 of the operatingmember 68 of the push rod 36 in the forward direction 76a against thecoil spring 70. As a result, the lever engaging groove 58 of the forkedmember 60 of the push rod 36 is engaged with the other end portion 34aof the pivotal lever 34 of the releasing mechanism 18, i.e., the forkedmember 60 clamps the other end portion 34a of the lever to push theother end portion 34a of the lever in the forward direction 76a. Then,the pivotal lever 34 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about theengaging hole 54 by a certain angle. As a result, the T-shaped portion56 at one end of the pivotal lever 34 is engaged with the notch 52 inthe offset portion 46 of the engaging portion 26 of the slidable plate28 to push the slidable plate 28 in the backward direction 76b. Inresponse to the movement of the slidable plate 28 in the backwarddirection 76b, the pawls 42 of the slidable plate 28 push the front endface 38a of the memory card 38 in the backward direction 76b (toward thehousing opening 14a), thereby ejecting the memory card through thehousing opening 14a.

One advantage of the operation of the above connector 10 is that theknob 66 and the plastic lever 88 of the connector 10 are located on thesame side surface of the housing 12. A second advantage is that themoving directions of both the knob 66 and the plastic lever 88 forlocking and unlocking the memory card are only the forward and backwarddirections 76a and 76b of the housing 12. Thus, an operator can easilyoperate the knob 66 and the plastic lever 88 with one hand and withoutsubstantially changing the position of the hand. Moreover, the fact thatall of the inserting, locking, and unlocking operations of the memorycard 38 can be executed in the same direction must be noted as anotheruseful advantage of the present invention.

In addition to the foregoing advantages, the connector 10 of the presentinvention has an extremely low-profile. The low-profile is achieved inlarge part by the arrangement of the re-enforcing plate 16, the slidableplate 28 and the pivotal lever 34, as described hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention, thepivotal lever 34 is located behind the slidable plate 28 on the sameplane. More specifically, the lower surfaces of the slidable plate 28and the pivotal lever 34 both contact and glide over the plane definedby the intermediate surface 12a of the header 20, which is slightlylower than the upper surface 20a of the header 20. Thus, the slidableplate 28 and the pivotal lever 34 are located on the same plane 12a. Theheight difference between the upper surface 20a of the header 20 and theintermediate plane 12a corresponds to the plate thickness t of each ofthe slidable plate 28 and the pivotal lever 34. Since the reinforcingplate 16 of the housing 12 is arranged to contact the upper surfaces ofthe slidable plate 28 and the pivotal lever 34, the slidable plate 28slides and the pivotal lever 34 pivots in the space between thereinforcing plate 16 and the intermediate plane 12a. As described above,the slidable plate 28 has a high surface 48 (with a height 2t from thebottom surface of the slidable plate 28) at its offset portion 46. Sincethe high surface 48 is located in the notch 24 of the reinforcing plate16 of the housing 12, it does not influence the size of the housing 12in the height direction. Accordingly, only the two metal platesincluding the slidable plate 28 (or the pivotal lever 34) and thereinforcing plate 16 are located above the memory card 38, and thethickness of the connector is thus decreased as compared to the case ofthe conventional connector wherein three metal plates are located abovethe memory card 38.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in a second embodiment of the presentinvention, a connector 10 includes first and second gears 100 and 102and first and second worm gears 104 and 106 for transmitting themovement of the push rod to the slidable plate 28. Unlike the releasingmechanism 18 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 fortransmitting the movement of the memory card 38 to the slidable plate 28through the pivotal lever 34, a releasing mechanism 18 of FIG. 7 issuited to transmit the movement of a push rod 108 to the slidable plate28 through the gears 100, 102, 104, and 106. Accordingly, the designs ofthe push rod and lock member of the second embodiments are differentfrom that of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 mainly shows only portionsdifferent from those of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 7, a push rod 108 of the second embodiment includes a frontportion 36a (not shown in FIG. 7) constituted by a forked member 60 anda linear member 74 continuous to it in the same manner as in the firstembodiment, a substantially linear intermediate portion 110 formedseparately of the front portion 36a and coupled to one side portion ofthe slidable plate 28, and a rear portion 112 formed separately of thefront portion 36a and the intermediate portion 110 and including asubstantially L-shaped operating member 114 and a coil spring 70. In thesame manner as in the first embodiment, the distal end of the coilspring 70 is fixed to a hollow projection 72 (not shown in FIG. 7) of aframe 14, and the rear end thereof abuts against the front end of theoperating member 114.

The first worm gear 104 is formed on the outer side surface of theintermediate portion 110 of the push rod 108 of the second embodimentalong moving directions 76a and 76b of a memory card 38 (not shown inFIG. 7). The first gear 100 is arranged to be able to mesh with thefirst worm gear 104. The second gear 102 having a larger diameter thanthat of the first gear 100 is arranged on the lower surface of the firstgear 100 to be coaxial with the first gear 100. The rotating shafts ofthe first and second gears 100 and 102 are mounted to the housing 12(not shown in FIG. 7).

The outer side surface of the substantially L-shaped operating member114 of the second embodiment has a knob 66 similar to that of theoperating member 68 of the first embodiment. The second worm gear 106 isformed on the inner side surface of the elongated portion of theoperating member 114 along the moving directions 76a and 76b of thememory card 38. The second gear 102 described above can mesh with thesecond worm gear 106. Accordingly, when the operator pushes the knob 66of the operating member 114 of the push rod 108 in the forward direction76a, the slidable plate 28 moves in the backward direction 76b throughthe gears 100, 102, 104, and 106, and the memory card 38 is dischargedthrough a housing opening 14a (not shown in FIG. 7) in the same manneras in the first embodiment.

When the knob 66 of the operating member 114 is pushed in the backwarddirection 76b as shown in FIG. 8, the slidable plate 28 also moves inthe backward direction.

In this second embodiment, the force required for discharging the memorycard 38 and the moving distance of the push rod 108 can be selected byarbitrarily setting the gear ratio of the gears 100 and 104, and 102 and106. When the force required for discharging the memory card 38 is setcomparatively large, even if the push rod 108 is erroneously operated orreceives an unexpected vibration or shock, the memory card 38 and theconnector are prevented from being undesirably disconnected from eachother, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When the movingdistance of the push rod 108 is appropriately set, the push rod 108 willnot project through the housing opening 14a, in the same manner as inthe first embodiment, and the entire length of the connector 10 can bedesigned to be comparatively short.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The sameconstituent elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by thesame reference numerals as in the first embodiment. The major differencebetween this embodiment and the first embodiment is the structures ofthe releasing mechanism and the locking mechanism.

In the third embodiment, a push rod 120 is made of a metal, one end 122of the push rod 120 on the housing opening side is formed to have anL-shaped section, and a guide groove 124 is formed in a proximal portion122a of the one end 122.

In the first embodiment, the lock member 78 is moved as the projection90 of the transmission shaft 92 is guided in the guide groove 84 of thelock member 78. In the third embodiment, a lock member 126 is moved as aprojection 130 of a transmission shaft 128 is guided in the guide groove124 of the metal push rod 120. The operating principle of this movementis the same as that of the first embodiment. Note that the guide groove124 of the third embodiment is longer than the guide groove 84 of thefirst embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the guide groove 124 of the third embodimentextends from a first position 131 as the standby position of theprojection 130 (FIG. 9) of the transmission shaft 128 to a secondposition 132 obliquely forward the first position 131, and then from thesecond position 132 to a third position 133 to be parallel to thecentral line of the push rod 120 and the moving direction of the memorycard. The characteristic feature of this embodiment is that a groove isformed to extend from the second position 132 to the third position 133.

When the projection 130 of the transmission shaft 128 is at the firstposition 131 in the guide groove 124, the lock member 126 is in theforward position. More specifically, the lock member 126 interferes withloading and unloading of a memory card 38. When the projection 130 is atthe second position 132, the lock member 126 is at a retracted positionand does not interfere with loading and unloading of the memory card 38.When the push rod 120 is further pushed in, the projection 130 of thetransmission shaft 128 moves from the second position 132 to the thirdposition 133 in the guide groove 124. At this time, the second and thirdpositions 132 and 133 are parallel to the central line of the push rod120 and the moving direction of the memory card. Thus, even when theposition of the projection 130 changes between the second and thirdpositions 132 and 133, the lock member 126 is always at the retractedposition, and does not interfere with loading and unloading of thememory card 38.

The other end of the push rod 120 forms a second forked portion 134constituted by an elongated member 136 and a short member 138, and theshort member 136 is inserted in a coil spring 140. The header-side endportion of the coil spring 140 is pressed against a spring fixing member142 opposite to the short member 136 of the push rod 120. The springfixing member 142, is integrally formed by molding with a plastic framemember 14c. Since the header-side end portion of the coil spring 140 ispressed against the spring fixing member 142, the push rod 120 is alwaysbiased in the direction 194.

A knob 146 for manually sliding the push rod 120 in theloading/unloading direction of the memory card is provided between anL-shaped end 122 and the short member 138 of the push rod 120. The knob146 projects to the outside of the connector through a push rod window148 of the frame 14.

A cross-shaped member 150 is provided on the elongated member 138 of thepush rod 120, and the housing opening-side side surface of thecross-shaped member 150 has a pair of upper and lower shoulders 152. Apair of upper and lower lances 154 are integrally formed by molding atportions of the plastic frame member 14c in the vicinities of theshoulders 152 to correspond to the pair of upper and lower shoulders152. Each lance 154 abuts against the corresponding shoulder 152. Thelances 154 have elasticity as they are thin, elongated plastic rods.When the distal ends of the lances 154 are pushed, they are disengagedfrom the shoulders 152 and bent toward the memory card housing space.

While the projection 130 of the lock member 126 is at the secondposition 132 in the guide groove 124, the push rod 120 is biased in thebackward direction (the discharging direction of the memory card) by thecoil spring 140. However, since the lances 154 abut against theshoulders 152 of the push rod 120, the push rod 120 cannot move furtherbackward and is held at this position.

A plastic lock button 156 is arranged near the lances 154. One sidesurface of the lock button 156 forms a knob 158. This knob projectsthrough a lock button window 160 of the frame 14, and the operator canoperate the lock button 156 with his finger. The lock button window 160will be described in detail later.

The other side surface of the lock button 156 has an engaging portion162 engageable with the cross-shaped member 150 of the push rod 120.This engaging portion 162 is constituted by four projections 164 (onlytwo are shown in FIG. 9). One side surface of the lock button 156further has two pairs of upper and lower thin, elongated elastic legs166. Each pair of legs 166 are opened in a v-shape manner.

Usually, the engaging portion 162 does not contact the shoulders 152 ofthe push rod 120 but is located slightly aside the shoulders 152. Thiscorresponds to a non-locking state (to be described later). At thistime, the legs 166 of the lock button 156 contact a vertical surface 168of the frame member 14c. A switch driving rod 170 is connected and fixedto the lock button 156. The switch driving rod 170 has a through hole172, and a switch lever 174 of a switch 176 is inserted in this throughhole 172. Along with the movement of the lock button 156 and the switchdriving rod 170 coupled to it, the switch lever 174 can move in theloading/unloading directions of the memory card, thereby turning on/offthe switch 176.

When the lock button 156 moves in the direction of an arrow 178 togetherwith the switch driving rod 170, the switch lever 174 inserted in thethrough hole 174 of the switch driving rod 170 also moves in thedirection of the arrow 178. In this state, the switch 176 is turned off.On the other hand, when the lock button 156 moves in the direction of anarrow 180, the switch lever 174 also moves in the direction of the arrow180 to turn off the switch 176, thereby transmitting a signal,indicating that locking is completed, to the data processing apparatus.

When the operator depresses the lock button 156 with his finger in thedirection of an arrow 182, the two projections 164 (only one is shown)of the engaging portion 162 at the housing opening side elastically pushthe pair of lances 154 to cancel abutment of the lances 154 with theshoulders 152. Simultaneously, the engaging portion 162 of the lockbutton 156 is engaged with the cross-shaped member 150 of the push rod120, and thus the push rod 120 cannot move. At this time, the V-shapedlegs 166 of the lock button 156 contacting the vertical surface 168 ofthe frame member 14c are arcuated such that their V-shaped open ends arewide open, and abut against the vertical surface 168 more strongly. Inthis state, when the operator removes his finger off the lock button156, the lock button 156 is biased in a direction opposite to the arrow182 by the elasticity of the legs 166. Then, engagement of the engagingportion 162 and the cross-shaped member 150 is canceled, and the lances154 abut against the shoulders 152 of the cross-shaped member 150 again,thereby stopping movement of the push rod 120 in the backward direction.

The lock button window 160 of the frame 14 is designed in connection tothe movement of the lock button 156. An inner side surface 184 of theframe 14 defining the lock button window 160 has a thin portion 186 anda thick portion 188 along the discharging direction of the memory card,and a projection 190 is formed between the thin and thick portions 186and 188.

A shoulder 192 is formed at the base portion of the knob 158 of the lockbutton 156. This shoulder 192 abuts against the thin portion 186 of theframe 14. Since the abutting shoulder 192 is biased by the elasticity ofthe V-shaped legs 166, the lock button 156 is stably located at apredetermined position.

The operation of the connector 10 of the third embodiment will now bedescribed.

The operator confirms that the locking mechanism is in the non-lockingstate, and inserts a memory card into the memory card housing space.Subsequently, when the operator sufficiently depresses the lock button156 in the direction of the arrow 182, the engaging portion 162 of thelock button 156 is engaged with the cross-shaped member 150 of the pushrod 120 in the manner as described above, thereby pushing the push rod120 in the direction of the arrow 182. Simultaneously, the shoulder 192of the lock button 156 is disengaged from the thin portion 186 of theframe 14 and slightly passes over the projection 190 between the thinand thick portions 186 and 188. At this time, when the operator changesthe operating direction of the lock button 156 and slides the knob 158of the lock button 156 in a direction indicated by an arrow 194, theshoulder 192 of the lock button 156 completely moves over the projection190 and abuts against the thick portion 188 of the frame 14. Even if theoperator removes his finger off the lock button 156 in this state, theengaging portion 162 of the lock button 156 stays to be engaged with thecross-shaped member 150 of the push rod 120, so that the push rod 120 isheld at the locked state. Simultaneously, since the lock button 156moves in the direction of the arrow 194, the projection of the lockmember 156 also moves from the second position 132 to the first position131, thereby locking the memory card.

In order to unlock the locked memory card, the lock button 156 is pushedin a direction opposite to the arrow 194. When the lock button 156 islocated at the thin portion 186 of the frame 14, the knob 158 of thelock button 156 naturally projects through the lock button window 160because of the elasticity of the V-shaped legs 166. At this time, theengaging portion 162 of the lock button 156 and the cross-shaped member150 of the push rod 120 are disengaged from each other, and theprojection 128 of the lock member 126 moves to the second position 132.In this state, the push rod 120 can be moved by the knob 158 in thedirection of the arrow 194, so that the memory card can be discharged.

According to this embodiment, the lock button 156 is operated in twodirections. Then, the operation becomes complicated as compared to acase wherein the lock button 156 is operated in one direction, therebyreducing an erroneous operation by the operator.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, andvarious changes and modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the releasingmechanism 18 is provided only on the right side surface of the housing12 of the connector 10 in the above embodiment, the releasingmechanism(s) 18 may be provided on the left and/or right side surface ofthe housing 12 as required. In place of one connector 10, a plurality ofconnectors 10 may be stacked, and a plurality of memory cards 38 may beconnected to them.

Alternatively, when a system having a plurality of data processingapparatuses is used, the connector 10 of the present invention ismounted to at least one of the apparatuses, and communication ofelectric signals between the switch 94 and the connector 10 and theprocessing step of the signal by a program may be executed by other dataprocessing apparatuses.

The data processing medium locking mechanism of the present invention,comprising the lock member 78 having the guide groove 84 and the pinprojection 90 that moves in the guide groove 84, can not only be appliedto the connector 10 described above and shown in the drawings, but alsocan be widely used in connectors or connector systems for connecting anytype of data processing medium.

The data processing medium used in the connector 10 of the presentinvention is not limited to a memory card, but various other types ofmedia, e.g., various types of integrated circuit (IC) cards, hard diskdrive packages incorporating low-profile hard disk drives, and the likemay be used in the connector 10. A data processing medium of these typesmay have contact terminals not only at its one end face but also at itsplurality of end faces.

The combination of the first and second contact terminals in the presentinvention may be male terminals and female terminals, or vice versa.

Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the particularembodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications thatare within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. A connector apparatus for a card-like data processing mediumcomprising:a frame having opposing side rails spaced at an intervalsubstantially equal to a width of the card-like data processing mediumfor guiding the card-like data processing medium during insertion intothe connector apparatus; a header coupled to said frame and having aplurality of contact terminals arranged to connect with a card-like dataprocessing medium inserted in the connector apparatus; a substantiallyplanar slidable plate movably mounted on said frame in a planesubstantially parallel to a plane defined by said frame, said slidableplate being operable to slide toward and away from said header andhaving a pawl adapted to engage a forward end face of the card-like dataprocessing medium; a push rod slidably mounted on one of said side railsand being operative to slide lengthwise of said one side rail toward andaway from said header; and a substantially planar pivotal leverrotatably mounted on said frame in substantially the same plane as theslidable plate, one end of said pivotal lever being coupled to saidslidable plate and the other end of said pivotal lever being coupled tosaid push rod, whereby movement of the push rod in one direction istranslated through rotation of said pivotal lever into movement of theslidable plate in an opposite direction.
 2. A connector apparatusaccording to claim 1 further comprising means for locking said push rodin place to prevent movement thereof, thereby preventing inadvertentejection of the card-like data processing medium from the connectorapparatus.
 3. A connector apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidframe has an open end through which the card-like data processing mediumis inserted and a closed end, and wherein the push rod does not projectfrom the open and closed ends of said housing as the push rod moveslengthwise of the side rail of said frame toward and away from saidheader.
 4. A connector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecard-like data processing medium comprises an integrated circuit card.5. A connector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card-likedata processing medium comprises a package incorporating a hard disk. 6.A connector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said frame issubstantially U-shaped.
 7. A connector apparatus according to claim 1wherein said substantially planar slidable plate and said substantiallyplanar pivotal lever have substantially the same thickness.
 8. Aconnector apparatus for a card-like data processing medium comprising:aframe having opposing side rails spaced at an interval substantiallyequal to a width of the card-like data processing medium for guiding thecard-like data processing medium during insertion into the connectorapparatus; a header coupled to said frame and having a plurality ofcontact terminals arranged to connect with a card-like data processingmedium inserted in the connector apparatus; a substantially planarslidable plate movably mounted on said frame in a plane substantiallyparallel to a plane defined by said frame, said slidable plate beingoperable to slide toward and away from said header and having a pawladapted to engage a forward end face of the card-like data processingmedium; a push rod slidably mounted on one of said side rails and beingoperative to slide lengthwise of said one side rail toward and away fromsaid header; a substantially planar pivotal level rotatably mounted onsaid frame in substantially the same plane as the slidable plate, oneend of said pivotal lever being coupled to said slidable plate and theother end of said pivotal lever being coupled to said push rod, wherebymovement of the push rod in one direction is translated through rotationof said pivotal lever into movement of the slidable plate in an oppositedirection; a lock member movably mounted on said one side rail proximatesaid push rod, said lock member moving in a widthwise direction of saidconnector apparatus and having a projection that releasably engages saidpush rod; a transmission shaft slidably mounted on said one side railsubstantially parallel to said push rod and being operative to slidelengthwise of said one side rail; and means coupling one end of saidtransmission shaft to said lock member, movement of said transmissionshaft in a first lengthwise direction being transmitted through saidcoupling means into movement of said lock member in said widthwisedirection, whereby the projection on said lock member engages said pushrod to prevent operation of said push rod;whereby the lock member, thetransmission shaft, and the coupling means lock said push rod in placeto prevent movement thereof, thereby preventing inadvertent ejection ofthe card-like data processing medium from the connector apparatus.
 9. Aconnector apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said coupling meanscomprises:a guide groove formed in said lock member; and a projectionformed on said one end of said transmission shaft, said projection beingmounted in said guide groove, said guide groove being contoured suchthat movement of said projection along said guide groove causes saidlock member to move in said widthwise direction.
 10. A connectorapparatus according to claim 8 wherein said locking means furthercomprises a lever attached to said transmission shaft to facilitatesliding of said transmission shaft in said lengthwise direction.
 11. Aconnector apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said push rod has anoperating member for moving and operating said push rod, and whereinboth the lever of said locking means and the operating member of saidpush rod are located on a same side rail of said frame.